Mooring block



June 6, 1944. J. P. KEATING I MOORING BLOCK Filed Feb. 22, 1945 Va R Patented June 6, 1944 MO ORING BLOCK James P. Keating, Neenah, Wis., assignor to Neenah Foundry Company, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 22, 1943, Serial No. 476,734

4 Claims.

This invention relates to mooring blocks intended primarily for the mooring of aeroplanes on runways or paved testing areas into which the mooring blocks may be embedded during the pouring of the concrete although the block might be employed with advantage on docks or landings for boats or other marine craft.

In particular the invention is concerned with the formation and configuration of the block in such a way as to permit it to be firmly embedded and anchored within the concrete pavement, and this requires that the block be so configured as to permit the inflowing of the concrete into and around all sides of the block so that firm contact will be maintained therewith, and the formation of voids or cavities will be avoided.

The invention further relates to the formation of the block in such a way that adequate strength and rigiditywillbe provided in its walls to withstand the severe stresses imposed upon it when in use in anchoring an aeroplane under test and with the propellers exerting a powerful drag on the mooring lines.

' Further objects and details will appear from a description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein+ Figure l. is a perspective viewof the mooring block;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a half cross-section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing the block partially embeddedin concrete.

The block comprises in general a body I of elongated, laterally flattened bowl-shaped formav tion, a flat base H and a short neck l2 which combineswith longitudinally extending webs 13 in connecting the under side of the body with the base.

The entire block is in the form of an integral casting and all portions thereof are configured to afford flat or smoothly rounding surfaces to facilitate the inflowing of the concrete andto avoid contact therewith of sharp corners or edges which under vibration might cause the abutting concrete to wear away or crumble and thus in time present cracks or cavities into which water might enter.

The sides M of the body are flat and spaced apart to provide for the insertion of an anchor hook or the like on the mooring line to the aeroplane or other craft. v

The sides are connected at the upper rims by a transverse bridge l5 and merge into transverseto the body a bowl-shaped flat-sided formation having a planate rim I! which will lie flush with the concrete urface. The rounding bottom of the body bowl provides a most convenientprog-- ress surface for the mooring line while being inserted and fastened to the transverse bridge.

The center of the rounded bottom' of the body merges into the center neck 12 and into the webs l3 which have concavely rounded end edges which merge-into the ends of the body in smoothly flowing curves terminating a slight distance above the vertical center of the body bowl.

The side walls of the body bowl are reenforced by flaring transverse webs l8 of substantially triangular shape which spring outwardly from the sides of the neck and merge into the rounded bottom and fiat sides of the body and, terminate near the top of the sides. The outer edges [9 of the webs slope downwardly and merge into the ed e 20 of the fiat base which has rounded ends 2|; The base is slightly greater in length than the body bowl and approximately twice as Wide. The neck iscored to provide a squared-aperture 22 leading from the body bowl through the base to permit drainage to the subgrade and to provide a socket for the reception of a setting tool or stakefor positioning'the block on the subgrade, and the squared formation prevents twisting or displacement while the concrete is being poured. An-aperture 23 in each of the webs 13 allows concrete to traverse and interlock the webs or to permit reenforcing rods to be inserted in cases where this type of construction is advisable.

In preparation for the pouring of concrete, the block will be positioned and staked upon the subgrade with its upper rim at the intended level of the concrete and preferably filled with sand or the like to exclude concrete during the pouring and finishing operations. .The rounded under surfaces of the body bowl andthe rounded edges of the reenforcing webs permit concrete to underfiow readily beneath the body and around the neck, and the absence of sharp corners or edges at all points will ensure contact of the concrete with all exposed surfaces so that no voids or cavities will be formed.

The 'planate formation of the rim of the body bowl will permit the concrete surface of the pavement to be readily smoothed and leveled without obstruction, and after the operation has been completed the sand or other filler can be readily.

removed from the body bowl to condition the mooring block for use.

The formationis one which afiords adequate strength and reenforcement against fracture or collapse under strain. The flat side walls at their base are reenforced by the flaring lateral webs which extend upwardly to a sufiicient height to afford adequate reenforcement without, however, interfering with the pouring and underfiowing of the concrete so that the exposed upper rim of the body bowl presents a smooth contour throughout unbroken at its sides by laterally ofiset protrusions which if continued up to the rim, would afford irregularities tending to promote disintegration of the concrete adjoining the rim of the body.

The upper edges of the body bowl are interior 1y reenforced by the bridge l5 which acts pow-- erfully as a spreader across the center of the body and immediately opposite the termini ofthe lateral webs so that despite the relative thinness of the body walls the points subjected to the heaviest stresses will be adequately reenforcegL;

The base being much wider than the body will present a broad flat surface for contact with the overlyingconcrete while at the -sametime the: longitudinal and transverse webs in unison with the;center; neck from which-they radiate serveto tie the base and bodytogetherinto a'rugged unified structure in which, however, the bodyis sufilcientlyelevated above the base :topermit a thick and massive volume-0t concrete to=under,- how the body and superpose itself above the surface of the base to permit the latter in ,full.de gree to: subserve theanchoring, function affordedby its extended upper surface.

Inlike manner therounded ends of the body bowl'and the, relatively thin formation of the supporting webs permit thorough embedment of the body-without:obstructingthe anchoring function of the base while the rounding, up of the ends of the body progressively increases-the-depth of the concretemass which is superposed upon the ends of the base-thereby exposingthe base to theresistance of aslarge amass of concrete as is commensurateawithaproper shaping, of the body to permit convenient attachment of a moor inganchor hook-or'the like,-and with-,thenecessar y' strengthening of the bodyitselt to with,- stand-severe strains.

It will thus be seen that the formation of the present mooring block issuch as; to afford abundant internal-strength inthelblock. itselt to: prey ventdisruption or fracture-while at the-same time makingradequate-provision for.- its embedment; withintheconcrete-in such'a way as to distribute stresses throughout a sufficient mass ,of. concrete. to preventthe blockfrom being tornloose from its anchorages I claim:

1. A- mooring. block comprising, an elongated bowl-shaped body; presenting a rounded contour throughouton its-under surface andhaving a. planate rim of uninterrupted exterior contour. adapted to lie flush vwith the surface,of.ja concrete runway or, the like, a bridge extending transversely across the upper portion, of the body, a flat base spaced below, theubody and ;o,fj greater width thanthe body to expose ahsub: stantial surface area below the sidesof therbody, a neckofreduced cross dimensionsas compared with the body t and connecting the center oi the body with ,thebase, and havingadrainopening through itsvinterior and through the base, and relatively thinwebs radiating from the neck and uniting the base, neck, and body, the ,structure as a whole being configured to'permitunden flowingof concrete between thebottom-ofthe body-and the top 'surface'of the base to afford effective anchorage of the base against a substantial mass of overlying concrete.

2. A mooring block comprising a bowl-shaped body presenting a rounded contour throughout on its under side and having a planate rim adapted to lie flush with the surface of a concrete runway or the like, a bridge spanning the body and having its top surface flush with the rim, a fiat base spaced below the body and of greater width than the body to expose a substantial surface area beyond the sides of the body, an exteriorly rounded neck of reduced cross dimensions as compared with the body and connecting the center of the body with the base having a'drain opening through its interior and through the base, and relatively thin longitudinal and transverse webs radiating from the neck and unitingwthe'b'ase, neck and body, the structure as a whole being configured to permit underfiowing of concrete around the neck and between the bottom of'the body'and the topysurfaceof thebase to afford effective anchorageof thebase; against a substantial mass of-overlying concrete.-

3; A-mooring block comprising an-elongated,- flat sided, round-ended, bowl-shaped-body; pre sentinga rounded contourthroughout onitsunder side and havingaplanate'rim adaptedto; lie flush with the surface of a-concrete runway or: the like, a transverse bridge spanningacrosszthe middle of the body and-havingits top sur-- face flush with the rim, a fiat base spaced below: the body and of greater width than the-body-to; expose a: substantial surface area beyond the: sides of thebody, an exteriorlyrounded neck=,of-- reduced cross dimensions 'as compared-with the:- body and connecting the center of the body with; the base having a-drain opening through its :interior andthrough the base, and relativelythin longitudinal and transverse webs radiating from. the neck and uniting the base, neck andv body, the structureas a wholebeingconfigured to per,- mit underflowing of concrete aroundtthe neckv and between the bottom of the body and thetop surface of the base to aiford effective-anchorage of the base-against a substantial mass -of.overlying concrete.

4.- A mooring, block, comprising an elongated flat-sided, round ended bowl-shaped body.pre-.-- senting a rounded contour; throughout: omits under, side and having a planatel rim", adapted to lie flush ,withthe surface of a, concrete. rune way or the like, a transverse .bridgespahning; across the middleof the bodyandhaving, its top surfaceflushwith the rim, a flat'base. spacedbe: low:the body and: of greater width than ,thebbdi: to expose asubstantial surface. area.v beyondthe sides of the. body; an exteriorly rounded, neck,o., reduced cross dimensions as compared with the,- body and connecting the center of thebodywith" thebaseand having;audrain,,opening extending through its interior and .through the base, and; relatively. thin longitudinal -and -.transverse., web's; radiating from the neck and sloping downwardly, and: outwardlygto the rim- .ofethe base and merge ing thereinto, the-,structureas. aiwhole -.being,, configured to ,permitunderflowing of' concrete; between the rounded bottom of the body andth'e. top surface of the base to, afford efiectivetanch'orageof: the base, against, a. substantiaL. mass. of. overlying;- concrete and they webs terminating, below the body rim to avoid interruption in..,the. smooth: external contour :of the, rim. I

JAMES P..- KEA'IIN.G:..v 

